Marine vessel propulsion apparatus

Abstract

A marine vessel propulsion apparatus includes an outboard motor, a transom bracket, a steering shaft, a first mount, a second mount, a tilt bracket, a tilt mechanism, and a steering mechanism. The tilt bracket is attached to a transom via the transom bracket and the steering shaft. The outboard motor is joined to the tilt bracket. The tilt bracket includes a first joint portion joined to the outboard motor via a first mount, a second joint portion joined to the outboard motor via a second mount, and a support portion arranged to support the outboard motor at a height different from heights of the first mount and the second mount.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A marine vessel propulsion apparatus comprising:
 an outboard motor arranged to generate a propulsive force; 
 a transom bracket attachable to a transom of a hull; 
 a steering shaft joined to the transom bracket, the steering shaft being turnable around a steering axis extending in an up-down direction; 
 a first mount having elasticity; 
 a second mount having elasticity and disposed lower than the first mount; 
 a tilt bracket including a first joint portion joined to the outboard motor via the first mount, a second joint portion joined to the outboard motor via the second mount, and a support portion arranged to contact and support the outboard motor at a height different from heights of the first mount and the second mount, the tilt bracket being joined to the steering shaft, the tilt bracket being turnable around a tilt axis extending horizontally along a right-left direction together with the outboard motor, the tilt bracket being turnable around the steering axis together with the steering shaft and the outboard motor; 
 a tilt mechanism joined to the steering shaft and the tilt bracket, the tilt mechanism arranged to turn the tilt bracket around the tilt axis with respect to the steering shaft; and 
 a steering mechanism joined to the transom bracket and the steering shaft, the steering mechanism arranged to turn the steering shaft around the steering axis with respect to the transom bracket; wherein 
 the support portion is arranged to contact and support the outboard motor in a direction obliquely inclined with respect to a front-rear direction of the marine vessel propulsion apparatus. 
 
     
     
       2. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is arranged to support the outboard motor at a height between the first mount and the second mount. 
     
     
       3. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is symmetrical about a plane including the steering axis and orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the tilt axis. 
     
     
       4. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front support portion, wherein
 the outboard motor includes an engine including a crankshaft, and 
 the support portion includes a rear support portion arranged to support the outboard motor on a side rearward relative to the crankshaft, and 
 the front support portion is arranged to support the outboard motor on a side forward relative to the rear support portion. 
 
     
     
       5. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the rear support portion is arranged to support the outboard motor on a side rearward relative to a gravity center of the outboard motor, and 
 the front support portion is arranged to support the outboard motor on a side forward relative to the gravity center of the outboard motor. 
 
     
     
       6. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support portion includes a lateral support portion arranged to support the outboard motor at a position separate from the first mount and the second mount in the right-left direction. 
     
     
       7. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a third mount having elasticity, wherein
 the support portion is arranged to support the outboard motor via the third mount. 
 
     
     
       8. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the support portion is arranged to contact and support the outboard motor at a position laterally outward of the first mount and the second mount in a left right-left direction of the marine vessel propulsion apparatus. 
     
     
       9. The marine vessel propulsion apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the outboard motor includes an engine and a casing disposed below the engine, and the support portion is arranged to contact and support the casing of the outboard motor.